Astros fire manager Bo Porter

Houston Astros manager Bo Porter, right, talks to home plate umpire Chris Conroy, left, about the condition of the pitchers mound during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Bo Porter went 110-190 in less than two years in Houston, but his firing was about more than numbers.

Photo By Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle

Houston Astros manager Bo Porter watches video screen after challenging a second base call during the 9th inning against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, in Houston. After reviewing the call was upheld.

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros fired manager Bo Porter on Monday, saying the dismissal had less to do with the team's 59-79 record than the need for “new direction” and a “united message throughout the entire organization.”

Porter was in his second season with the Astros and was succeeded by interim manager Tom Lawless, who worked in Houston's minor league system. Lawless' first game in charge is Tuesday night at home against the first-place Los Angeles Angels.

Porter joined the Astros after working as a third-base coach for the Washington Nationals. The Astros went a franchise-worst 51-111 in his first season for their third straight 100-loss season.

General manager Jeff Luhnow said the decision was not based on “our current level of competitiveness.” The Astros entered Monday in fourth place in the AL West with the second-worst record in the league.

“I recognize that our win-loss record is largely a product of an organizational strategy for which I am responsible,” Luhnow said in a statement. “Rather, I made this decision because I believe we need a new direction in our clubhouse.”

Luhnow refused repeatedly to get into more detail about why Porter was let go as he fielded questions for almost 25 minutes Monday afternoon.

Starting pitcher Scott Feldman lamented Porter's firing and noted the care and concern he showed when Feldman's father died earlier this season.